KR20080094915A - Text box numbering and linking visual aids - Google Patents

Abstract

A graphical user interface is disclosed for tracking and managing the use of text boxes by providing visual aids that make it easy for a user to see which text boxes are linked to which, as well as the order of text boxes in a linked chain. The present system also makes it easy to track the creation and breaking of linked text box chains.

Description

TEXT BOX NUMBERING AND LINKING VISUAL AIDS} A graphical user interface providing text box numbering and linking visual aids.

The system relates to a graphical user interface that enables a user to interface with application programs executed in connection with a computer operating system and / or operating system.

The computer operating system uses a graphical user interface ("GUI") to convey information to the user through the display by various combinations of graphical items such as icons, text, drop-down menus, dialog boxes, and toolbars. Frequently used. The GUI provides an interface to the operating system and application programs executed in connection with the operating system. The purpose of most user interfaces is to provide a rich user experience that allows users to quickly and easily access a wide range of operating system and / or application program functions.

Certain application programs, such as, for example, word processing and desktop top publishing application programs, treat elements of the content, including text and / or graphics, as content entities. One type of content object is a text box. The text box is treated as a graphic object by the application program, but may contain text that can be easily sized and positioned to frame an inserted object, such as, for example, a diagram, flowchart, or schematic. . A known property of text boxes is that they can be linked together in a chain. If the first text box is linked to a second text box, any text that has been resized and does not fit within the second text box is automatically "spilled over" to the first text box. Will fill the text box. Linked text box chains of any desired length can be formed such that upstream text boxes are passed to downstream text boxes in the order in which the text boxes are linked.

Currently, text boxes do not contain useful notations or visual aids to show which text boxes are linked to, and also provide useful indication of the order in which the text boxes are linked. I never do that. In addition, existing linked text box chains may be broken and new chains may be formed. However, when forming and breaking text box links, it is usually difficult to know which text boxes are part of the chain that is being formed or broken. Without a system of effective visual aids, the use of text boxes and text box chains can be confusing and difficult to manage.

The system, briefly described, provides a graphical user interface for tracking and managing the use of text boxes by providing a visual aid that makes it easier for the user to see which text boxes are linked as well as the order of the text boxes in the linked chain. It is about. The system also makes it easy to track the creation and breaking of linked text box chains.

In one aspect of the present system, during linking operations, target text boxes available for linking may vibrate when hovered over so that the user can quickly and easily discern the text boxes available for linking operations ( can be pulsate). When the user clicks on the desired valid target text box to create a link, the target text box and all other text boxes in the chain may vibrate or flash, indicating that the link has been established. The linked linked text boxes also allow the user to know all the text boxes on the GUI that are part of this linked text box chain. Similarly, if the linked text box chain is broken, the previous chain can vibrate in the GUI to indicate that the chain is broken and which text boxes were part of this broken chain.

In another aspect of the present system, all text boxes linked in one chain may be assigned a common visible linking aid. In embodiments, the visible linking aid may be a specific color assigned to the boundary of each text box in the chain. No two text box chains are provided with the same visible linking aid. When the screen cursor hoveres over a text box, the visible linking aid for that text box becomes visible, allowing the user to quickly and easily determine the chain (if any) to which the text box belongs.

In another aspect of the present system, numeric indicators may also be assigned sequentially to each stand alone text box and to a text box within a linked text box chain. When hovering over a text box, the numeric indicator assigned to it may be displayed in a sequence badge that appears on the border of the text box or elsewhere. Thus, in addition to knowing which text boxes belong to the linked text box chain and which do not belong, the user can also quickly discern the order of the text boxes in the linked text box chain.

Visual linking aids and numeric indicators are temporary. That is, when one text box is linked to another text box or chain of text boxes, its visible linking aid may be changed to the visible linking aid of the new text box or text box chain. Similarly, if one text box is linked to another text box or chain of text boxes, its numeric identifier may change to indicate its relative position within the newly formed linked text box chain. Thus, even if text boxes are added and deleted, and linked text box chains are formed and broken, the user can continue to track and manage the text boxes.

1 is a block diagram of computer hardware for implementing embodiments of the present system.

2A and 2B are high level flow charts for performing various text box operations in accordance with the present system.

3 is a flow chart for providing numeric indicators and visible aids in creating text boxes.

4 is a flow chart for displaying numeric indicators and visible aids when hovering over text boxes in accordance with the present system.

5 is a flow chart for providing numeric indicators and visible aids when adding text boxes.

6 is a flow chart for providing numeric indicators and visible aids to linked text boxes in accordance with the present system.

7 is a flow chart for providing numeric indicators and visible aids to a chain when a linked text box chain is broken according to the present system.

8 is a flow chart for providing numeric sequences and visible aids when a text box is deleted in accordance with the present system.

9-16 depict sample screens from a displayed graphical user interface in accordance with the present system.

The system will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-16, which involve a GUI that allows a user to interface with a computer operating system and / or application programs executed in connection with the computer operating system. The system includes, for example, a Macintosh operating system from Apple Computer, Inc., a Windows® operating system from Microsoft Corporation, and a Linux operating system. It can operate across a variety of operating systems using a user interface.

The GUI described herein can be implemented in a variety of processing systems. 1 illustrates an example of a suitable general computing system environment 100 in which the present system may be implemented. The computing system environment 100 is only one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the use or functionality of the system. The computing system environment 100 should not be construed as having any dependencies or requirements with respect to any one or combination of components shown in the exemplary computing system environment 100.

The system can operate in many other general purpose or special purpose computing systems, environments, or configurations. Examples of well-known computing systems, environments and / or configurations include personal computers, server computers, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set-top boxes, programmable appliances, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, telephone systems, and the like. Distributed computing environments, including, but not limited to, any of the systems or devices.

The system will generally be described in the context of computer executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The system is also designed to be executed in a distributed computing environment where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.

In connection with FIG. 1, an exemplary system implementing the present invention includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer 110. Components of the computer 110 include, but are not limited to, a system bus 121 that links various system components, including the processing device 120, the system memory 130, and the system memory to the processing device 120. The system bus 121 may be any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or a memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. For example, this architecture is also known as the PCI, also known as the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standard Association (VESA) local bus, and Mezzanine bus. (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus, etc., but is not limited thereto.

Computer 110 typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Any medium that can be accessed by computer 110 can be a computer readable medium, and such computer readable media includes volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, computer readable media may include, but are not limited to, computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROMs, digital versatile disks or other optical disk storage devices, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, Or any other medium that can be accessed by the computer 110 and store the desired information. Communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data on modulated data signals, such as carrier waves or other transport mechanisms, and convey all information. Media. The term " modulated data signal " means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed to encode information in the signal. By way of example, communication media includes wired media such as wired networks or direct-wired connections, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. All combinations of the above described media are also intended to be included within the scope of computer readable media.

System memory 130 includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, such as read only memory (ROM) 131 and random access memory (RAM) 132. At startup, such as during startup, a Basic Input / Output System (BIOS) 133, which includes basic routines to help transfer information between components within computer 110, is typically stored in ROM 131. RAM 132 typically includes data and / or program modules that are immediately accessible to and / or presently being operated on by processing unit 120. As an example, FIG. 1 illustrates, but is not limited to, an operating system 134, an application program 135, other program modules 136, and program data 137.

Computer 110 also includes other removable / non-removable, volatile / nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only, FIG. 1 illustrates a hard disk drive 141 that writes to or reads from a non-removable nonvolatile magnetic medium, and a magnetic disk drive that writes to or reads from a removable nonvolatile magnetic disk 152 (FIG. 151, an optical disk drive 155 for writing to or reading from a removable nonvolatile optical disk 156 such as a CD-ROM or other optical medium. Other removable / non-removable, volatile / nonvolatile computer storage media that may be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, DVDs, digital video tapes, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. It is not limited. Hard disk drive 141 is typically connected to system bus 121 via a non-removable memory interface, such as interface 140, and magnetic disk drive 151 and optical disk drive 155 are typically interface 150. It is connected to the system bus 121 by a removable memory interface such as.

The drives and associated computer storage media described above and shown in FIG. 1 store computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for the computer 110. In FIG. 1, for example, hard disk drive 141 is shown to store operating system 144, application program 145, other program module 146, and program data 147. Note that these components may be the same as or different from the operating system 134, the application program 135, the other program modules 136, and the program data 137. In this regard, the different numbers of the operating system 144, the application program 145, the other program module 146, and the program data 147 are intended to indicate that they are at least different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer 110 through input devices such as a keyboard 162 and pointing device 161, referred to as a mouse, trackball, or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 120 via a user input interface 160 coupled to the system bus, but by other interfaces and bus structures, such as parallel ports, game ports or universal serial bus (USB). May be connected. A monitor 191 or other type of display device may also be connected to the system bus 121 via an interface such as a video interface 190. In addition to the monitor, the computer may include other peripheral output devices such as a speaker 197 and a printer 196, which may be connected via an output peripheral interface 195.

Computer 110 may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer 180. Remote computer 180 may be a personal computer, server, router, network PC, peer device, or other conventional network node, and typically includes most or all of the components described above with respect to computer 110, Only memory storage device 181 is shown in FIG. 1. The logical connections shown in FIG. 1 include LAN 171 and WAN 173, but may include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, and the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 110 is connected to the LAN 171 via a network interface or adapter 170. When used in a WAN networking environment, computer 110 typically includes a modem 172 or other means for establishing communications over WAN 173, such as the Internet. The modem 172, which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus 121 via the user input interface 160 or other suitable mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules described in connection with the computer 110 or portions thereof may be stored in a remote memory storage device. As an example, FIG. 1 shows, but is not limited to, remote application program 185 in memory device 181. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications connection between these computers may be used.

The application program 135 stored in the system memory 130 may include a GUI for performing the present system described below. When one of the application programs including the GUI of the present system is started, it executes in the operating system 134 while executing in the processing unit 120. An example of an operating system on which the application programs including the GUI can be executed is Apple Computer's Macintosh operating system. However, the application programs including the GUI include various operating systems including the Microsoft Windows® operating system or the Linux operating system. It can also work in systems. Application programs, including the GUI, may be loaded from the CD-ROM drive 155 into the memory 130 or alternatively downloaded via the network 171 or the network 173.

The system will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 2A-8 and the sample screen depiction of FIGS. 9-16. The term "text box" as used herein is not limited to graphic objects provided with text, but rather refers to a broader range of graphic, linkable objects that may include text, graphics or other content. It is understood that it can be done. It is understood that the software of the present system may provide a user interface that can be contextually adapted to various application programs, such as document writing, presentations, spreadsheets, drawing, and / or other application program types. .

The text box function may be initiated by clicking on a link from a toolbar, drop-down menu, and / or palette that appears in the GUI window of the application program in step 200 (FIG. 2A). Once started, the software of the system allows the user to perform various actions related to text boxes, including: 1) adding text boxes; 2) adding text to the text box; 3) formatting the appearance of the text box; 4) hover over a text box; 5) linking text boxes together; 6) unlinking or breaking previously linked text boxes; And / or 7) deleting the text boxes. The system provides an improved user experience when performing some or all of these text box operations by providing visual aids in the form of colors and numbers that make it easier to track and manage text boxes.

When starting the text box function, if there are no text boxes (step 202), the user first creates a text box in step 204. An operation for creating a text box is described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the screen depiction shown in FIG. 9. Text box 402 may be created from a toolbar, drop-down menu, and / or palette that appear in GUI 400 of an application program. The text box 402 can be created in a known manner and the size and aspect ratio can be user defined in the GUI 400 in a known manner.

In step 210, the software of the system assigns a numeric identifier to the text box 402, which may be stored in RAM or other memory. The numeric identifier is used to keep track of the number of text boxes in the linked text box chain, and also to keep track of the relative position of the text boxes in the chain. For example, in a chain of three linked text boxes, the numeric identifier for the first box in the chain may be "1", the numeric identifier for the second box may be "2", and the third The numeric identifier for the box may be "3". Similarly, the first text boxes in the plurality of different linked text box chains may each have a numeric identifier 1. It is understood that other consecutive identifiers may be used. For example, the first text box in the linked chain may be assigned the letter "A", the second text box in the linked chain may be assigned the letter "B", and so on. According to an embodiment of the present system, the numeric identifier may also be displayed in a sequence badge on the GUI as described below.

In step 212, the software of the system additionally assigns a unique visible linking aid to the text box 402 and in step 214 the text box 402 is displayed with the visible linking aid. In embodiments, any text box linked to text box 402 will then be assigned the same visible linking aid. The visible linking aid may be considered unique in that no two text boxes on the GUI 400 that are not linked together have the same visible linking aid.

In the embodiments described below, the visible linking aid is the color in which the boundaries of the text box are displayed on the GUI 400. Thus, separate text boxes or linked text box chains may each have a different color border, such as blue, red, green, purple, orange, and the like. However, it is understood that the visible linking aid used to distinguish a text box or linked text box chain may not be a colored border in embodiments of other methods. The visible linking aid may be, for example, a colored background in the text box, or a patterned border or background of the text box.

As is known in the art, the boundaries of a text box can change its appearance depending on whether it is a typing mode or a format mode. For example, in typing mode, the text box border may be diagonal, while in format mode, the text box border may be herringbone lines. It is understood that the text box may include a visible identifier when in typing mode or format mode. Referring again to FIG. 2A, in step 220, if the user uses a mouse or other user interface selection device to position and click the screen cursor within the text box, the software may operate in a typing mode to display the text. It may be accepted and displayed (step 222). In step 224, the text box can enter the format mode by clicking on the border of the text box. When in format mode, the text box may be resized and displayed in step 226. Other known formatting options may be applied to the text box as in step 226, such as formatting the text box and the appearance of the text box border.

Another text box operation that may be performed is a mouse hover action, where the mouse or other user interface selection device places the screen cursor over the text box. According to an embodiment of the system, when mouse hovering occurs (steps 228 and 2A), the system performs the steps 230-244 shown in FIG. 4 and the screen depictions shown in FIGS. 10-14. .

10 shows the creation of two additional text boxes 404 and 406 on the GUI 400, with sample text shown in the text box 404. Each of the text boxes 402, 404, and 406 has different visible linking aids (ie colored borders) indicating that none of the text boxes are linked to each other (these different colors are around the text boxes 402-406). 9 to 16 with different shades of gray above the border). 11 shows a text box 406 linked to a text box 404 (link operation is discussed in more detail below).

According to a later aspect of the system, when the cursor hoveres over a text box that is part of a linked chain, not only the visual linking aid but also the numeric identifier is added to the linked text boxes 404 and 406 in FIGS. 11-13. It may be displayed in the sequence badge 410 as shown. The numeric indicator in the sequence badge visually displays in GUI 400 the relative position of the text box within the text box chain of that text box. Thus, the number "2" in the sequence badge 410 on the text box 406 is a second text box in the linked chain of text boxes 404 and 406 and not fitting in the text box 404. Any text indicates that it will spill over to the text box 406. Any number of text boxes can be linked together, where it is understood that the relative position of the text boxes in the chain is displayed in the sequence badges 410 corresponding to each text box.

Sequence badge 410 is shown as a circle at the corner of the border of the text box. It is understood that the sequence badge may have a different shape and may be displayed at other locations around the boundaries of the text box, inside the text box, or outside the text box. The numeric indicator and sequence badge may be displayed in the same color as the visible linking aid corresponding to that text box, but need not be the same color as the visible linking aid in other embodiments.

In FIG. 11, the visual linking aid and any sequence badge are visible for each text box, even when the screen cursor is not positioned above. This is for easy understanding of the present system. However, in other embodiments, any sequence badge and visible linking aids corresponding to each text box may actually be visible on the GUI 400 even when the screen cursor is not positioned above. The software can provide an icon or button on a toolbar, drop-down menu or palette, which, when selected, displays all text box visible linking aids and sequence badges to the GUI 400, regardless of the position of the screen cursor. Enable mode.

12-14 have the same three text boxes as in FIG. 11, but the visual linking aid and sequence badge corresponding to the text box are visible only while the mouse is hovering over the text box. Thus, in step 230 (FIG. 4), when the screen cursor is positioned over a text box, the visible linking aid assigned to that text box is displayed. The software checks at step 232 whether the text box is a stand alone text box that is not linked to another text box. If the text box is a standalone text box, only visible linking aids are displayed except for the sequence badge. This is the example shown in FIG. The software then returns to step 220 (FIG. 2A) to perform any later selected text box operations. In an alternative embodiment, even if the text box is a standalone text box, its numeric indicator, eg, "1" may be displayed in the sequence badge. Such an embodiment is shown, for example, in FIG.

Alternatively, if the text box is part of a linked chain, the sequence badge may be visible upon mouse hover, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In embodiments, the sequence badge may only be temporarily displayed. Thus, the software can use a sequence badge display countdown, which starts when the screen cursor is first entered into the text box. When the countdown expires, the badge is removed from the display. In embodiments, the countdown may be between 1 second and 3 seconds, but the countdown may be shorter or longer in other embodiments.

At step 234, the software determines whether the sequence badge countdown has expired. If the screen cursor was just entered in the text box, the countdown would not yet expire. However, it is possible for the cursor to be positioned over the text box for some time while the other functions described above with respect to FIG. In this example, the cursor may remain in a particular text box, and when the software of the present system performs the steps shown in FIG. 5 again, step 234 may indicate that the sequence badge 410 has been removed while the cursor remains in the text box. Prevents display.

Assuming that the countdown has not yet expired (for example, if the cursor is just positioned over the text box), the software of the system displays a sequence badge corresponding to that text box somewhere in step 236. do. As indicated, the sequence badge will display the numeric indicator assigned to that text box to indicate the relative position of that text box within the linked chain of text boxes. At step 238, the software checks whether the countdown has expired. If it has expired, the sequence badge is no longer displayed (step 240) and the software returns to step 220 of FIG. 2A to perform any other desired text box tools.

If the cursor leaves the text box, the countdown is reset and the sequence badge will be displayed again when the cursor returns to the text box again. Thus, at step 242, the system checks whether the mouse remains hovering over the text box. If hovering, the system loops through steps 236 and 238 to display the sequence badge and count down the preset time. However, if the system determines that the mouse is no longer positioned over a given text box, in step 244 the sequence badge countdown for that text box is reset, and in step 240 the display of the sequence badge stops, The system returns to step 220 of FIG. 2A to perform any subsequent desired text box operations.

In other embodiments, the sequence badge may remain displayed while the cursor remains positioned over the text box and / or while the visible linking aid for the text box is displayed. In these embodiments, the sequence badge countdown step will be omitted.

Referring again to FIG. 2A, assuming there are no mouse clicks in the text box (step 220), mouse clicks to the boundaries of the text box (step 224) or mouse hovering (step 228), the software then proceeds to step 250 You will check mouse clicks outside of the text box. By clicking outside of text box 402 in step 250, typing and formatting modes can be terminated and text boxes can be displayed without visible linking aids or sequence badges in step 252. Depending on the preferences defined by the user in step 224, a normal black border may or may not appear around the text box. The system can then return to step 220 of FIG. 2A to perform any subsequent desired text box operations.

Another text box operation that can be performed is the addition of new text boxes. The functionality for adding text boxes to the GUI is known in the art. According to an embodiment of the system, when a text box is added (step 254, FIG. 2B), the system performs steps 260 through 264 shown in FIG. If additional text boxes are created in the GUI 400, the software of the system assigns a numeric identifier to each of the added text boxes (step 260) and others that may already be assigned to existing text boxes. Assigns a different visible link aid to (step 262). Additional text boxes may be displayed in the GUI 400 at step 264. As indicated above with respect to the unlinked text boxes 402, 404, and 406 shown in FIG. 10, each may have a different visible aid. For example, text box 402 can have a blue border, text box 404 can have a red border, and text box 406 can have a green border. The system can then return to step 220 of FIG. 2A to perform any other desired text box operations.

Another text box operation that can be performed is linking of text boxes to form a linked text box chain. The ability to link text boxes into a chain is known in the art. According to an embodiment of the system, when the text boxes are linked (steps 266 and 2B), the system performs the steps 270 to 282 shown in FIG. 6 and the screen depiction shown in FIG. . In the example embodiment of FIG. 11, text box 406 is linked to text box 404. Text box 402 remains a standalone text box.

When a text box linking operation is initiated, the user selects a second, first text box (e.g., text box 404) for linking to a target text box (e.g., text box 406). Can be selected. According to the principles of the present system, when moving the screen cursor around to select a target text box, the text boxes that can be effectively linked to the first text box when the screen cursor hoveres thereon in step 270 are selected. It may vibrate or be emphasized more than once. Vibration provides the user with an easy visual indication that the text box is available for link operation. Once the target text box is selected, the linking of the first and second text boxes can be performed in a manner known by the system.

In other embodiments, once the first text box (eg text box 404) is selected in the linking process, all of the available target text boxes (ie, all text boxes that can be linked to the first text box). All) can be vibrated or highlighted. In later embodiments, instead of or in addition to highlighting the available target text boxes, all of the text boxes that are not available for linking with the first text box may be dimmed.

In step 272, the software checks whether the text box 406 itself to be linked is the second or subsequent text box of an existing linked chain. If so, the previously existing chain is broken in step 274, and the broken chain is highlighted with the visible unlinking aid. The visual unlinking aid is described in more detail below.

However, if text box 406 is a standalone text box or the first text box in a linked chain, the software of the system performs step 276. In step 276, the software reallocates the new consecutive numeric identifier to the text box 406 and reassigns it to any other box in the downstream chain if the text box 406 is part of a linked chain. Assign. The text box 406 may be assigned the next consecutive numeric identifier following the numeric identifier of the text box 404. Thus, for example, if text box 404 was a standalone text box with a text numeric identifier "1" prior to a link operation, text box 406 may be assigned a numeric identifier "2". Similarly, if text box 404 was the last text box in a chain of three linked text boxes, including text box 406 before the link operation, when text box 406 was linked to text box 404 Text box 406 may be assigned a numeric identifier "4".

Once the text box 406 is linked to the text box 404, not only the text box 406, but also any other text boxes in the down chain of the text box 406, is the text box 404 at step 276. To have the same visible linking aid. Thus, as an example, before linking, if text box 404 was red and text box 406 was green, both text boxes 404 and 406 may be red after being linked. After they are linked, it is understood that text box 404 can alternatively accommodate the visible linking aid of text box 406. As another method, both text boxes 404 and 406 can receive an entirely new visible linking aid after they have been linked.

In chain formation, a chain comprising linked text boxes 404 and 406 may vibrate brightly one or more times in step 278 to indicate the formation of a new linked text box chain. Vibration in step 278 may occur in a variety of ways, including, for example, blinking and / or brighter visible linking aids. Step 278 may additionally or alternatively include a chain that changes color shortly. Each of the text boxes in the new chain, including text boxes 404 and 406, may vibrate simultaneously, or the newly added text box (s) may vibrate after the upstream text boxes in the chain.

The newly formed text box chain may vibrate one to three times, or may be emphasized for a short time, for example for one to three seconds as described above. It is understood that the newly formed text box chain may vibrate four or more times, or in other embodiments may be emphasized shorter or longer than 1 to 3 seconds.

After the vibration has stopped, the text boxes 404 and 406 may be displayed with the visible linking aid when the screen cursor hoveres over the text box 404 or 406 in step 280. In the case of mouse hovering, a sequence badge with a numeric identifier may also be displayed in step 282.

15 is another example of a link operation in which text box 402 is linked to text box 406. All text boxes in the chain will initially vibrate to indicate the formation of a new linked text box chain. The numeric identifier for text box 402 is reassigned to the next consecutive numeric identifier in the chain (ie, "3"), and the visual linking aid is reallocated the same as text boxes 404 and 406. .

Another text box operation that can be performed is breaking of existing text box chains. The ability to break a text box chain is known in the art. According to an embodiment of the system, when the text box chain is broken (step 288, FIG. 2B), the system performs steps 290-294 shown in FIG. 7 and the screen depiction of FIG. Once the linked text box chain is broken, the entire chain can be vibrated or highlighted in several ways using a visible break aid at step 290. For example, the chain may vibrate one or more times with a color that is different from the visible linking aid color previously linked with all text boxes in the previous text box chain. The vibrating visible break aid may be the same color as the visible linking aid in other embodiments.

After the linked text box chain is broken, at step 292, the system can assign a unique visible linking aid to each text box that is no longer part of the same linked chain after being broken. In step 294, the system may also assign successive numeric identifiers to each text box affected by the break. In particular, all text boxes in the linked chain upstream of the break will be unaffected to maintain their visible linking aids and consecutive numeric identifier (s). The text box being broken is standalone and reassigned a new visible linking aid and its own numeric identifier (eg "1") after it is broken. Linked text boxes downstream of the break may remain linked at the time of break, but will be reassigned new visible linking aids and consecutive numeric identifiers. Has a numeric identifier of "."

As an example, FIG. 15 shows three linked text boxes. FIG. 16 shows an example where the text box 402 is broken from the chain of linked text boxes of FIG. 15. The previously linked text box chain, including all three text boxes, vibrates with a visible break aid to indicate the break in the chain. For example, before breaking each of the text boxes had a blue border, and after breaking, the entire chain could vibrate one or more times in red. The text boxes 404 and 406 then maintain their visible linking aids and numeric identifiers. However, the text box 402 is assigned a new numeric identifier displayed on the new visible linking aid and sequence badge 410.

The user may also choose to perform the function of deleting the text box itself or a text box that is part of a chain (step 298, FIG. 2B). In this case, the system can perform the steps 300 and 302 shown in FIG. In step 300, the system checks whether the deleted text box was detached or part of a chain. If so, the system can return to step 220 to perform other text box operations without any further action required. On the other hand, if the deleted text box was part of a chain, at step 302, the system would reduce the assigned numeric identifiers of any text boxes below the linked chain of deleted text box (s) ( can decrease. If one text box is deleted, the lower linked text boxes in the chain can decrement their numeric identifiers by one. Alternatively, if three text boxes are deleted, all of the underlying linked text boxes can decrement their numeric identifier by three.

In step 306, the system checks if there are any further text box operations that the user would like to perform. If present, the system performs these operations in step 308, which may be known in the art, and the system may then return to step 220 to perform any other text box operations. have. If there are no further text box operations to be performed, the text box function can be closed so that the user can perform another application program function or terminate the application program.

The foregoing detailed description of the system of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments are chosen so as to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, so as to best utilize the present invention in various modifications and in various embodiments suitable for the particular use intended by those skilled in the art. . It is intended that the scope of the invention system be defined by the claims claimed herein.

Claims (20)

In the computer system 100 having a display 191 and a user interface selection device 161, a method of providing a graphical user interface 400 to the display, (a) creating at least two text box objects (204, 254); And (b) displaying (214, 230, 236, 264, 274, 278, 280, 282) at least one visible aid indicative of the relationship between the at least two text box objects. Graphical user interface providing method comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) displaying at least one visible aid on the display indicative of a relationship between the at least two text box objects comprises: displaying (214) the text box objects with a colored border. , 230, 264, 280). 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step (b) of displaying the relationship between the at least two text box objects with a colored border includes the at least two text box objects when the at least two text box objects are linked to each other. Displaying the objects together with the same colored border. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying (b) the relationship between the at least two text box objects with a colored border further comprises: the at least two text when the at least two text box objects are not linked to each other. Displaying box objects with different colored borders. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) displaying on the display at least one visual aid indicative of the relationship between the at least two text box objects comprises: at least one of the text box objects to which the at least two text box objects are linked. And displaying (236, 282) numbers on the at least two text box objects when in a chain, the numbers representing the relative positions of the at least two text box objects. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) displaying at least one visible aid on the display indicating a relationship between the at least two text box objects is the same as that of the text box objects to which the at least two text box objects are linked. Pulsating a display of at least a portion of the at least two text box objects when linked in a chain. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying (b) at least one visible aid in the display, the at least two visual aids representing the relationship between the at least two text box objects, is provided that the at least two text box objects are unlinked to each other. Vibrating (274) the display of at least a portion of the at least two text box objects. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step (c) of changing the appearance of the at least one visible aid in the display if the relationship between the at least two text box objects changes. The method of claim 8, wherein changing the appearance of the at least one visual aid comprises: after the first text box object and the second text box object of the at least two text box objects are linked, the first text box object; A method for providing a graphical user interface that includes changing a border color of a text box object. The method of claim 8, wherein the step (c) of changing the appearance of the at least one visual aid comprises: after the first text box object and the second text box object of the at least two text box objects are unlinked, And changing a border color of the first text box object. The method of claim 8, (B) displaying at least one visible aid on the display indicative of a relationship between the at least two text box objects, wherein the at least two text box objects are in at least one chain of linked text box objects. Displaying (236, 282) in the at least two text box objects numbers representing the relative positions of the at least two text box objects, (C) altering the appearance of the at least one visible aid may include: changing the relative position of a first text box object of the at least two text box objects within the chain of linked text box objects; Changing the number on the text box object. How to provide a graphical user interface. The method of claim 1, further comprising merely displaying the at least one visible aid when a screen cursor is positioned over the text box object by the user interface selection device. In a computer system (100) having a display (191) and a user interface selection device (161), a method of providing a graphical user interface (400) to the display, (a) creating a text box object (204, 254); And (b) displaying the text box object with at least one visible aid associated with the text box object (214, 230, 236, 264, 274, 278, 280, 282). Including, The at least one visible aid comprises: 1) inclusion of the text box object within a group of two or more linked text box objects, and 2) relative position of the text box object within the group of two or more linked text box objects. At least one of, How to provide a graphical user interface. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein (b) displaying the text box object with at least one visible aid associated with the text box object comprises: displaying the text box objects with colored borders (214, 230, 264, 280). 14. The method of claim 13 wherein displaying (b) the text box object with at least one visible aid associated with the text box object comprises displaying (236, 282) a number on the text box object. And wherein the number indicates the relative position of the text box object within the linked text box chain. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for programming a processor to perform a method of providing a graphical user interface to a display, the method comprising: (a) creating a text box object (204, 254); And (b) displaying the text box object with at least one visible aid associated with the text box object (214, 230, 236, 264, 274, 278, 280, 282). Including, The at least one visible aid comprises: 1) inclusion of the text box object within a group of two or more linked text box objects, and 2) relative position of the text box object within the group of two or more linked text box objects. At least one of, Computer-readable media. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying at least one visible aid associated with the text box object on the display further comprises: displaying the text box in a color in which the text box objects within the group of two or more linked text box objects are displayed. Displaying the object. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein displaying at least one visible aid associated with the text box object on the display comprises displaying a continuous indicator on the text box object, wherein the continuous indicator is selected by the two. And a relative position of said text box object within said group of linked text box objects. 19. The computer-readable device of claim 18, further comprising changing the color of the text box object and the continuous indicator when the text box object is unlinked from the group of two or more text box objects. media. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising only displaying the color of the text box object and the successive indicators of the text box object when a screen cursor is positioned over the text box object by the user interface selection device. , Computer-readable media.

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